Romantics beware – a warning has been issued for people to be on their guard against scams around Valentine’s Day.

You may think you’ve found your perfect match and soul mate this February, but are they really trying to con you?

Online money transfer service Azimo says it expects the number of victims of online romance scams to soar by 300 per cent this month.

With unscrupulous fraudsters looking to cash in, Azimo has become no stranger to having to break the bad news to customers that cupid’s arrow might be searching for their wallets and not their hearts.

The company estimates it will have saved unsuspecting customers almost £200,000 this Valentine’s Day through its security and checks. On average, each successful intervention saves customers nearly £400 each.

Singletons looking for love can become targets from overseas scammers through internet chatrooms or dating sites.

Sometimes love-struck victims are tricked into sending small gifts to romantic partners they’ve never met, other times the fraudsters ask for larger amounts for fictional emergencies, such as a family member suddenly needing hospital treatment.

Azimo CEO Michael Kent said: “It’s not specifically men or women, or even those of a certain age that are susceptible. It’s all sorts of people from all walks of life.

“There are a lot of people longing for love and who think they’ve found a soul mate. What they don’t realise is that the person on the other end of the computer probably has another 20 online chat windows open at the same time.”

He added: “Unfortunately the internet has many dark corners and often very well-meaning people get caught out in these scams which hurt them both emotionally and financially.

“You can imagine how tough it is for us to have to phone up a customer and tell them that the girlfriend in the Philippines, that they have been chatting to every day for the last month, is actually a bald guy sat in a bedroom in London.”

Tips for protecting your money online:

  • Never send money to someone you have only met online
  • If you think something seems wrong, trust your gut and seek advice from family and friends
  • Never give your bank account details to anyone
  • Do not give away private details about yourself to people met online
  • Ensure your social media accounts are secure as scammers use this as a means of getting information about you
  • When buying gifts or other services online make these websites are secure
  • Be aware of dating website scams which often ask you to provide your bank details to register